Early-years classes are more likely to include children learning English than any other phase of education.
But in the Office for Standards in Education’s report, published last week, Quality of Nursery Education - Developments since 1997-98 in the Private Voluntary and Independent Sector, bilingual learners weren’t mentioned.
In my experience, having carried out OFSTED inspections in more than 60 nursery settings, where settings have children for whom English is an additional language, there are almost always areas for development.
In my view, it is a serious omission which needs to be rectified immediately in order that parents can be reassured that nursery education in the UK includes all children and excludes no one.
Beverley Crooks Member of the National Home School Group 5 Park Chase, Wembley Park Middlesex
